Bigfoot! : The True Story of Apes in America (Paperback)

by Loren Coleman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For years, scientists and researchers have studied, speculated about, and searched for an enigmatic creature that is legendary in the annals of American folklore. Now, learn the truth about...

BIGFOOT!

In this fascinating and comprehensive look at the fact, fiction, and fable of the North American "Sasquatch," award-winning author Loren Coleman takes readers on a journey into America's biggest mystery -- could an unrecognized "ape" be living in our midst? Drawing on over forty years of investigations, interviews, and fieldwork on these incredible beasts, Coleman explores the modern debates about these powerful, ape-like creatures, why they have remained a mystery for so long, and what we can learn about ourselves from these animals, our nearest cousins!

From reports of Bigfoot's existence found in ancient Native American traditions, to the controversial Patterson-Gimlin film of a Bigfoot in the wild, to today's Internet sites that record the sightings almost as soon as they occur, Coleman uncovers the past, explains the present, and considers the future of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in the natural world.

About the Author
Loren Coleman is one of the world's leading cryptozoologists and Bigfoot researchers. A Life Member of the International Society of Cryptozoology, Coleman is the author of twenty books, including the extremely popular Mysterious America: The Revised Edition, and Mothman and Other Curious Encounters. He is a frequent guest on radio and television programs, and appeared in the FX Channel's Search for the Mothman. Coleman has taught documentary film, cryptozoology, and anthropology courses at New England universities since 1980. He can be reached at PO Box 360, Portland, Maine, 04112, USA, or by e-mail at [e-mail].

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Paraview Pocket Books (April 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743469755
• ISBN-13: 978-0743469753
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #146,134 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology > Animals > Apes & Monkeys
  #58 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Physical

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hominds and logic...the rational view, May 4, 2004

By	S. A Troutt (MURFREESBORO, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

'Bigfoot', the very word brings forward an image of a hundred grainy snapshots of men bumbling around in monkey suits, blatantly faked footprints and a thousand lurid stories ususally found in 'the Enquirer'. So any reputable scientist generally can dismiss the whole thing as summer sunshine. I was a skeptic myself before I read this book. But the vexing problem is there has been credible sights of 'something' in the woods that are none of the above things. Credible people seeing incredible things. So what is this all about?
'Hominds' have been sighted repeatedly in every state in the US and the provinces of Canada. There are the ubiquitous footprints, snapshots, movie film, (...)matter, nests as well as the numerous visual sightings. There have also, unfortunately, been enough fakes scams fabrications and hoaxes to frustrate even the most objectively minded reader.
Loren Coleman is a noted investigator and cyptobiologist. He objectively reviews the truly mysterious cases (there are more then the average reader might think) as well as the 'tainted' cases and even the (...)evidence. There is a logical breakdown and classification of the different 'groups'(species) of the hominds with examples of sightings. This book is well researched yet very readable for the layman.
I will freely admit that I don't quite know what to think of "Bigfoot" but this book has convinced me that there is a distinct possibility that such a creature or creatures could still exist. Mr Coleman argues a good case here and I would recommend this book to the objective reader.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Sourcebook for Beginner or veteran Bigfoot enthusiast, October 11, 2003

By	jimnypivo "Jim Hisson" (west of Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

Loren Coleman, America's reigning cryptozoologist, studies, collects information and pursues wildlife that are not-yet-discovered by the legitimate scientific community.

Books about the supernatural usually read like newspaper clippings strung together with the occasional "Gee whiz, holy mackerel can you believe it?" side remarks from the author.

Coleman has evolved beyond that style. He remains excited about the subject, and succeeds with this book on a level where he hasn't before. He weaves the historical accounts together with a writer's skill, excellent research, and honest reporting to produce a readable and informative history of the elusive beast.

He starts the book by comparing Bigfoot to other cryptid primates (yeti, almas, Yowie, etc.) and follows with an interesting retelling of Sasquatch history in North America, from Indian legends to pioneer accounts. His use of Native American history is as good as anthropological monographs in the research and connections he makes to present the Case for Bigfoot.

Along the way he presents the most comprehensive version of the `Minnesota Iceman' that I've ever read, as well as a final chapter to the famed 'Jacko' story. Well-rendered retellings of all the classic encounters--the 1958 Bluff Creek flap, the Patterson-Gimlin movie, and a thoroughly researched version of the 'Ape Canyon' saga.

Coleman does an excellent job in painting a picture of the diverse `brotherhood' of modern Bigfoot hunters. The remote locations and difficult terrain was obstacle enough to seek the beast. But possibly the greatest obstacle in the search for the mystery hominid were the Bigfoot groups' bitter rivalries and petty disagreements.

If you're going to read one decent book on the Sasquatch, I recommend you read this one first.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book by a man with a passion for the subject, June 23, 2006

By	Chancellor R (Missouri) - See all my reviews

Loren Coleman is a writer who believes what he writes, and has spent a life time in persuit of the the truth of bigfoot. I found the book to be well written and informative. It was not a white wash of the subject either. There was enough skeptical information presented in this book to make even hard core believers think hard before accepting rumors and stories as true. The book gave information on various bigfoot like creatures that don't fit the common bigfoot mold, without becoming disjointed. It's a very interesting subject that will never be fully settled until a bigfoot, alive of dead is found and studied